CHAPTER 23 — FIRST PROFESSIONAL SHOOT
The morning sun cut through the tall windows of the Azevedo mansion like golden beams on glass. Inside, the household buzzed with quiet but intense activity. Today wasn't just any day—today was Árman's first professional modeling shoot, commissioned by one of the top luxury brands in Brazil. The brand had discovered him after his fifth birthday photos went viral online, spreading like wildfire across social media. Within hours, agencies, designers, and photographers recognized what the family already knew: Árman was extraordinary.
The mansion's main hall had been transformed into a full studio:
High-end cameras mounted on automated rigs
Large softbox lights and reflectors positioned perfectly
Backdrops of varying colors and textures
Costumes ranging from casual chic to avant-garde formalwear
Professional hair and makeup stylists, though they barely touched him, only enhancing the perfection already there
Árman entered the room calmly, his golden eyes scanning the setup. Every detail, every reflector, every fold of the fabric, and every angle of light registered instantly in his mind.
He was five years old—but he moved, posed, and observed like a seasoned professional.
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◆ THE TEAM REACTS
The photographers and assistants froze when he arrived. They had seen pictures, yes, but nothing prepared them for the living, breathing perfection standing before them.
Hair flowing like moonlight over his shoulders
Eyes sharp, golden, full of depth
Flawless skin, facial symmetry impossible for any human
Tiny hands, perfectly proportioned
A calm, confident posture
One stylist whispered, "I… I can't believe he's five."
The lead photographer, adjusting his lens, muttered, "This child knows exactly how to pose… without anyone teaching him."
Árman didn't smile yet. He observed. He calculated. He processed the light, the shadow, the movement, the camera—every variable. Every shot would be perfect because he demanded it from himself.
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◆ THE SHOOT BEGINS
The first outfit: a cream-colored tailored suit with fine stitching, classic but luxurious.
Árman stepped onto the platform. His movements were subtle, almost imperceptible—small shifts in weight, micro-adjustments in posture, tiny rotations of his head.
Click.
The camera captured not just a photograph but a statement of presence.
He changed to a white silk blouse with navy vest for casual elegance. The photographer instructed him to tilt his chin slightly and move his shoulders. He did—but subtly altered it to maximize light reflection on the hair and golden eyes.
Click. Click. Click.
Each frame revealed:
Hair catching the light just perfectly
Golden eyes glowing against soft shadows
Skin smooth and radiant, facial symmetry flawless
Micro-expressions conveying innocence, poise, and subtle charisma all at once
The team was in awe. Every photographer, stylist, and assistant whispered among themselves:
"He's not just a child… he's a phenomenon."
Árman didn't notice. His mind recorded everything, storing knowledge of angles, lighting, posture, and expression for later review.
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◆ FAMILY WATCHES
Leonardo and Isabella observed quietly behind a partition.
Leonardo whispered: "He's absorbing everything… every adjustment, every correction. He's already perfect, but he's learning it even faster."
Isabella smiled softly. "He's doing it all naturally. He doesn't just model—he understands modeling. Every detail."
Grandparents Augusto and Helena leaned forward, eyes shining. Even the visiting maternal family across the street watched via live feed, astonished at how effortlessly he commanded the camera, the space, and the attention.
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◆ HIGHLIGHT SHOTS
The final shots involved playful and dynamic poses—Árman spinning slightly, lifting a tiny prop, walking across a reflective floor. Each motion executed with mathematical precision, like he had rehearsed it a thousand times.
The hair stayed perfect despite motion
Eyes always captured just right in the light
Hands naturally positioned
Expressions conveying both innocence and allure
Every shot was immediately uploaded to the brand's private gallery for review. The editors, used to working with professional adults, were stunned.
"Is this… five years old?" one muttered. "Impossible…"
Árman, meanwhile, quietly observed the cameras, lights, and angles. Every frame was a lesson for him.
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◆ THE END OF THE SHOOT
After hours of shooting, the team wrapped up. Árman walked off the platform, barefoot on the soft studio floor, hair falling perfectly over his shoulders. His golden eyes glimmered with quiet satisfaction.
Leonardo approached, smiling. "How do you feel, meu filho?"
Árman shrugged softly. "It was fun. I learned a lot. I want to do every shoot like this. Every one."
Isabella kissed his forehead. "And you will, my little miracle. Every single one."
Grandpa Augusto shook his head. "He'll break every record in every field he touches."
Árman smiled faintly, almost imperceptibly. He wasn't thinking about praise. He was thinking about mastery, skill, and learning everything possible—starting with modeling, before anything else.
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◆ SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
By evening, a few official preview shots were leaked to social media:
Instagram exploded
Facebook groups went wild
Fashion forums debated: "Who is this child?"
Every comment focused on the impossible beauty, poise, and presence of a five-year-old who was already performing like a professional model
Even casual viewers couldn't stop staring. Árman's modeling hobby had officially begun.
But in his mind, he already had the next step planned. Every skill. Every field. Every mastery.
And football? That wait would come in 1½ years. For now, modeling would be his playground, and he would master it like he would master everything else.